Go for a Million!

March 2nd, 2011 ejensen

Every day we are bombarded with statistics about how fat, lazy and unhealthy we are as a nation. Over 108 million of us have a chronic disease such as high blood pressure, asthma, osteoarthritis, heart disease, diabetes. All of these things are killing us or injuring us, affecting the quality of our lives and the lives of those we love. And, it affects our workplace. The unhealthier we are, the less productive we are. Not only are we less productive for our employers, but we cost them more money in health insurance. The majority of Americans receive health insurance through their employers, and the employers directly feel the costs of a fat, lazy and sick workforce as insurance rates skyrocket.

This puts employers in a unique position to encourage employees to get healthy. Employees spend the majority of their time at work, so there is ample opportunity to provide programs and incentives to guide their employees towards a healthy lifestyle. A national workplace wellness movement is underway and at Filice we are tracking these healthy employers who invite their employees to “Go for a Million”!

Meet Super Store Industries and employee Randy Reahm:

Super Store Industries manufactures and distributes high quality dairy products. Super Store Industries recognizes and appreciates the value of each employee, and as such they sponsor numerous health awareness programs for employees and their families. Last year, with the help of corporate wellness consultants Sonic BOOM, the employees of the Fairfield California division of Super Store Industries participated in a walking contest. Each participating employee wore a pedometer on their foot that was linked to a computer program calculating their steps each day. Employee Randy Reahm participated in the contest, lost 35 pounds, went off his blood pressure medication and ignited a walking revolution at Super Store. His fellow employees encouraged him to “GO 4 A MILLION”….steps. With the encouragement of his employer, Randy walked over a million steps, nearly 19 miles a day. GO 4 A MILLION, Randy!